Patch

The present disclosure relates to a patch.

Conventionally, patch-type coolants have been used for cooling the body after exercise, preventing or improving heat disorders such as heat illness, preventing or improving inflammation of the skin, preventing or alleviating swelling, and promoting blood circulation and the like. Examples of such patch-type coolants include those with an adhesive layer supported on a support such as non-woven fabric, which cools the portion where the patch is attached by the heat of vaporization of water.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a sheet-shaped coolant having an adhesive layer with a pre-determined composition from the view point of durability of a cooling effect. Furthermore, Patent Literature 2 discloses a patch for cooling the body, which has an adhesive layer that resists freezing even when stored in a freezer, for the purpose of giving an increased coolness.

Recent patch-type coolants have been used for a wide range of applications and now are required to have additional effects such as an anti-inflammatory effect and an analgesic effect as well as a cool feeling effect. Thus, a patch with a structure that can maintain both a cool feeling effect and additional effects such as an anti-inflammatory effect and an analgesic effect for a long time has been required.

The present disclosure provides a patch that has been made in view of such problems, and one object of the patch described herein is to maintain a cool feeling effect and an analgesic effect for a longer time.

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to solve the above problem. As a result, the present inventors have found that the above problem can be solved by using an adhesive layer with a pre-determined structure, and have completed the present invention.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides the following patch.

[1] A patch comprising:

a nonwoven fabric; and

an adhesive layer on the nonwoven fabric,

wherein the adhesive layer comprises (i) a cool feeling agent, (ii) a local anesthetic and/or an anti-inflammatory analgesic and (iii) water, and

the adhesive layer has a maximum thickness of 0.50 mm or more.

[2] The patch according to [1], wherein the local anesthetic comprises lidocaine.

[3] The patch according to [1] or [2], wherein the cool feeling agent comprises menthol.

[4] The patch according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein an area to which the adhesive layer is applied is smaller than an area of the nonwoven fabric, the adhesive layer has an outer edge portion whose thickness is gradually reduced toward an edge, and an angle formed by a side surface of gel and the nonwoven fabric in the outer edge portion is 5° or more and less than 90°.

[5] The patch according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the adhesive layer has an adhesive force of 10 to 100 gf/cm.

[6] The patch according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the adhesive layer has a maximum thickness of 1.00 mm or more.

[7] The patch according to any one of [1] to [6], further comprising an infiltration layer in which part of the adhesive layer infiltrates into the nonwoven fabric, wherein the infiltration layer has a maximum thickness of 0.001 to 0.500 mm.

[8] The patch according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein a content of the cool feeling agent is 0.01 to 10% by weight based on a total amount of the adhesive layer.

[9] The patch according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein a total content of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic is 1 to 7.5% by weight based on a total amount of the adhesive layer.

[10] The patch according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein a content of the cool feeling agent is 6.25 to 500 parts by weight based on a total of 100 parts by weight of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic.

[11] The patch according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein a content of the water is 50 to 90% by weight based on a total amount of the adhesive layer.

[12] The patch according to any one of [1] to [11], wherein the adhesive layer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of aluminum hydroxide, sodium polyacrylate, polyacrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a patch which can maintain a cool feeling effect and an analgesic effect for a longer time.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure (referred to as “the present embodiment” below) will be described in detail, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the figures, identical elements are marked by an identical symbol, and overlapping descriptions are omitted. Positional relations including vertical or horizontal relations are as described in the figures unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, the dimensional ratio of the figures is not limited to the ratio illustrated in the figures.

The patch according to some embodiments includes a nonwoven fabric and an adhesive layer on the nonwoven fabric, and the adhesive layer includes a cool feeling agent, a local anesthetic and/or an anti-inflammatory analgesic and water, and the adhesive layer has a maximum thickness of 0.50 mm or more.

The nonwoven fabric in the present embodiment is not particularly limited, and various known materials may be used. The fiber constituting the nonwoven fabric may be roughly classified into synthetic fibers and natural fibers. Non-limiting examples of the synthetic fibers include polyamide fibers; polyacrylic fibers; nylon fibers; polyolefin fibers such as polypropylene and polyethylene; polyester fibers such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate; rayon (regenerated fiber); vinylon; and aramid fibers.

Furthermore, non-limiting examples of the natural fibers include cotton, hemp, silk, wool, kenaf, bananas, bamboo, pulp and mineral fibers.

Examples thereof also include a mixed fiber thereof. Of them, polyester fibers are preferred from the viewpoint of improvement and durability of a cool feeling effect.

In one aspect, the nonwoven fabric has a thickness T of 0.50, 0.60, 0.70, 0.80, 0.90, 1.00, 1.10, 1.20, 1.30, 1.40, 1.50, 1.60, 1.70, 1.80, 1.90, 2.00, 2.10, 2.20, 2.30, 2.40, 2.50, 2.60, 2.70, 2.80, 2.90, 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.30, 3.40, 3.50, 3.60, 3.70, 3.80, 3.90, 4.00, 4.10, 4.20, 4.30, 4.40, 4.50, 4.60, 4.70, 4.80, 4.90 mm or more. In another aspect, the nonwoven fabric has a thickness T of 0.60, 0.70, 0.80, 0.90, 1.00, 1.10, 1.20, 1.30, 1.40, 1.50, 1.60, 1.70, 1.80, 1.90, 2.00, 2.10, 2.20, 2.30, 2.40, 2.50, 2.60, 2.70, 2.80, 2.90, 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.30, 3.40, 3.50, 3.60, 3.70, 3.80, 3.90, 4.00, 4.10, 4.20, 4.30, 4.40, 4.50, 4.60, 4.70, 4.80, 4.90, 5.00 mm or less. In some embodiments, the nonwoven fabric has a thickness T of preferably 0.50 to 5.00 mm, preferably 1.00 to 4.00 mm, and preferably 1.00 to 3.00 mm. When the thickness T of the nonwoven fabric is in the above range, a cool feeling effect due to vaporization of water and a heat dissipation effect by heat exchange with the atmosphere may be improved. Thus, a cool feeling effect is likely to be improved and maintained. For the thickness of the nonwoven fabric, for example, a patch is cut in the direction perpendicular to the surface direction, and the thickness of the nonwoven fabric in the resulting cross-section may be measured with a caliper. Alternatively, the thickness of the nonwoven fabric in a cross-section may be measured in an image of the cross-section photographed by, for example, a microscope.

A basis weight is measured as a weight of the fabric sheet cut to a basic size, for example, weight gram per mof the fabric sheet. In one aspect, the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 10, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 g/mor more. In another aspect, the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is 500, 490, 480, 470, 460, 450, 440, 430, 420, 410, 400, 390, 380, 370, 360, 350, 340, 330, 320, 310, 300, 290, 280, 270, 260, 250 g/mor less. In some embodiments, the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is preferably 10 to 500 g/m, preferably 20 to 400 g/m, and preferably 50 to 250 g/m. When the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is in the above range, a cool feeling effect due to vaporization of water and a heat dissipation effect by heat exchange with the atmosphere may be improved. Thus, a cool feeling effect is likely to be improved and maintained.

The support may have a monolayer structure of a single material, or may have a multiple layer structure in which two or more of the same or different materials are stacked. The shape of the support is not particularly limited, and may be suitably determined based on the shape of the part of the body to which the patch is attached.

The adhesive layer includes (i) a cool feeling agent, (ii) a local anesthetic and/or an anti-inflammatory analgesic and (iii) water, and if necessary, a gel substrate for forming a water-containing gel, and other components. The respective components will be described in detail below.

In some embodiments, a cool feeling agent may be an agent having a boiling temperature of 35° C. or less, or evoking cold sensation via cold receptors on the skin, including transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8). In some embodiments, cool feeling agents are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include menthol, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide, N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-3-p-menthane carboxamide, N,2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butaneamide, 3-(L-methoxy)propane-1,2-diol, menthyl lactate, monomenthyl succinate, menthone glycerin acetal, 3-1-menthoxypropane-1,2-diol, menthone glycerin ether, spilanthol, monomenthyl succinate, oxalic acid menthyl ethyl amide, menthyl pyrrolidone carboxylate, and menthane carboxamide ethylpyridine. In some embodiments, the cool feeling agent may comprise menthol to improve a cooling effect and durability of a cool feeling effect and durability of an analgesic effect. One of these cool feeling agents may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The cool feeling agent may be used in the form of a mixture. For example, menthol may be used in the form of an essential oil such as mint oil, peppermint oil and spearmint oil. The cool feeling agent also includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

The content of the cool feeling agent may be determined by those skilled in the art depending on the desired level of the cool feeling effect. The content of the cool feeling agent is, for example, 0.01 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 7.5% by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight, and further preferably 0.75 to 5% by weight based on the total amount of the adhesive layer. When the content of the cool feeling agent is 0.01% by weight or more, a cool feeling effect tends to be improved, and not only durability of a cool feeling effect but also durability of an analgesic effect tend to be improved. When the content of the cool feeling agent is 10% by weight or less, irritation due to an excessive cool feeling effect tends to be suppressed.

The local anesthetic in the present embodiment is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include lidocaine, procaine, tetracaine, dibucaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine and bupivacaine. Of them, lidocaine is preferred from the viewpoint of durability of an analgesic effect. The local anesthetic also includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

The anti-inflammatory analgesic in the present embodiment is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include ibuprofen, diclofenac, methyl salicylate, glycol salicylate, indomethacin, felbinac, piroxicam and flurbiprofen. Of them, ibuprofen and diclofenac are preferred because they provide excellent durability of a cool feeling effect and excellent durability of an analgesic effect. The anti-inflammatory analgesic also includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salt may be an inorganic salt or an organic salt. The salt is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include monobasic acid salts such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide and methanesulfonate; and polybasic acid salts such as fumarate, maleate, citrate and tartrate. One of these local anesthetics and anti-inflammatory analgesics may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The total content of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic may be determined by those skilled in the art in consideration of, for example, efficacy and skin penetration. The total content of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic is, for example, preferably 1 to 7.5% by weight, more preferably 1.5 to 6% by weight, and further preferably 2 to 5% by weight based on the total amount of the adhesive layer. When the total content of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic is 1% by weight or more, the analgesic effect tends to be improved and durability of the analgesic effect tends to be improved.

In one aspect, the content of the cool feeling agent is 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or more parts by weight based on a total of 100 parts by weight of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic. In another aspect, the content of the cool feeling agent is 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 or more parts by weight based on a total of 100 parts by weight of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic. The content of the cool feeling agent is preferably 6.25 to 500 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 150 parts by weight, preferably 20 to 125 parts by weight, and preferably 20 to 100 parts by weight based on a total of 100 parts by weight of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic. When the ratio of the content of the cool feeling agent to the content of the local anesthetic and the anti-inflammatory analgesic is within the above range, the local anesthetic and/or the anti-inflammatory analgesic are unlikely to inhibit the cool feeling action of the cool feeling agent.

In one aspect, the content of water is 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60% by weight or more based on the total amount of the adhesive layer. In another aspect, the content of water is 90, 80, 70, 60% by weight or less based on the total amount of the adhesive layer. In some embodiments, the content of water is preferably 50 to 90% by weight, preferably 50 to 80% by weight, and preferably 55 to 70% by weight based on the total amount of the adhesive layer. When the content of water is within the above range, a cool feeling effect due to heat of vaporization tends to be improved, and durability of the cool feeling effect and durability of the analgesic effect tend to be improved.

The gel substrate is not particularly limited, and for example, those which make the adhesive layer water-retainable and control flowability of the adhesive layer to maintain a predetermined shape are preferred. Using a gel substrate makes the adhesive layer being in the form of a water-containing gel which is adhesive to parts of the body.

The gel substrate is not particularly limited as long as it gives water retaining properties and/or shape retainability to the adhesive layer. Examples thereof include organic gel substrates and inorganic gel substrates. One of these gel substrates may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

Non-limiting examples of the organic gel substrates include thickening polysaccharides such as carrageenan, alginic acid, propylene glycol alginate, tara gum, locust bean gum, glucomannan, xanthan gum, welan gum, pectin, pullulan, guar gum,seed gum, welan gum, sodium alginate, mannan, gelatin, agar, casein, dextran, dextrin, soluble starch, carboxylated starch, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl ethyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose phthalate, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate and hydroxymethyl ethyl cellulose; polyacrylic acid polymers such as cross-linked polyacrylic acid, partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, polyacrylic acid-polymethacrylic acid copolymer and salts thereof (e.g., alkali metal salts such as sodium salt and potassium salt; salts of amine such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; ammonium salts); rubber polymers such as polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene copolymer, polystyrene-polyisoprene-polystyrene copolymer, polystyrene-polyethylene-polybutylene-polystyrene copolymer and polystyrene-polyethylene-polypropylene-polystyrene copolymer; and polyvinyl alcohol, carboxyvinyl polymer, urethane polymer and silicone polymer.

Of these gel substrates, organic gel substrates exhibit excellent adhesiveness and allow the adhesive layer to be closely attached to a part of the body which needs to be cooled. Thus, it is preferable that the gel substrate described in the present disclosure includes at least an organic gel substrate.

Non-limiting examples of inorganic gel substrates include double salts such as aluminum hydroxide, aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum magnesium hydroxide, dihydroxyaluminum aminoacetate, kaolin and aluminum alum, and magnesium aluminometasilicate, smectite, montmorillonite, saponite, hectorite, bentonite, beidellite, nontronite, sauconite, stevensite, laponite and thickening silica.

Of them, at least one member selected from the group consisting of aluminum hydroxide, sodium polyacrylate, polyacrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol is preferred. Use of such a gel substrate tends to improve sustained release of the cool feeling agent, local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory analgesic, and improve durability of the cool feeling effect and the analgesic effect. Furthermore, controlling vaporization of water tends to improve durability of the cool feeling effect.

Furthermore, another preferred embodiment of the gel substrate described in the present disclosure is a combination of an organic gel substrate and an inorganic gel substrate in order to improve shape retainability. In particular, a combination of aluminum hydroxide, sodium polyacrylate, polyacrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol is preferred.